The Prada Spring Summer 2024 Women’s Fashion Show took place on September 21, 2023, within the Deposito at Fondazione Prada in Milan, under the banner of “Prada Milano Dal 1913.” The collection for Spring Summer 2024 pays homage to a handbag design originally conceived by Mario Prada, who was not only the grandfather of Miuccia Prada but also one of the co-founders of Prada, dating back to the year 1913.
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Among the guests who attended the show were Enhypen, Kara Wai, Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin aka Formafantasma, Julia Marino, Chiara Ferragni, Fedez, Benedetta Porcaroli, Anaïs Demoustier, Vincent Cassel, Scarlett Johansson, Wes Anderson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Watson, Amanda Gorman, Hunter Schafer, Letitia Wright, Kylie Jenner, Sofia Richie, Kelela, Charli D’Amelio, Jordan Wolfson, Ayo Edebiri, Andra Ursuța, Theaster Gates, Hailey Gates, Christine Centenera, Joel Edgerton, Eiza González, Jeon Somi, Rosalía, Sana, Mei Nagano, Diana Silvers, Julia Ducourna, and Metawin Opas-iamkajorn.
Mario Prada, known for his adventurous spirit and deep intellectual curiosity, had a profound fascination with culture. In 1913, he founded Fratelli Prada and embarked on journeys around the world to procure precious and unique items, materials, and skilled artisans, all aimed at enriching everyday life. Upon his return to Milan, he collaborated with talented European craftsmen to create exquisite pieces, including vanity cases crafted from luxurious leather, home watches, calendars, porcelain items, and elegant small bags, all collectively referred to as “oggetti di lusso” or objects of luxury. These items bore the distinct Prada signature and featured items such as English silver, Austrian handbags, Bohemian crystal, silks, and leathers from Asia. Accessories made from precious leathers were adorned with jeweled or intricately carved clasps and bespoke details. This period laid the foundation for Prada’s reputation as a creator of exceptionally high-quality items. In 1919, Prada was honored with the title of Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household, leading to the incorporation of the House of Savoy’s coat of arms and knotted rope design into its logo.
For the September 2023 Prada show, a bag designed by Mario Prada around 1913, preserved within the Prada archives, is both faithfully reproduced and creatively reinterpreted. The bag features a frame clasp adorned with a hand-carved motif depicting a mythological figure. This design reflects the contemporary fascination with historical Eastern artistic aesthetics, which had a profound influence on decorative and fine arts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the original version was made in silk moiré, the revived design is crafted from nappa leather and re-nylon. In addition to this iconic piece, a series of bags draw inspiration from its distinctive clasp detail and incorporate it into oversized tote styles made from leather or re-nylon. Together, these creations directly reflect Prada’s remarkable 110-year history, its hallmark craftsmanship, and its enduring spirit of curiosity.
All Images courtesy of ©PRADA
